Mapisa-Nqakula denied influencing South African defence tender — Daily Maverick
At the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denied during cross-examination that she influenced the awarding of a 79 million rand defence contract to businesswoman Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. As Daily Maverick reports, Mapisa-Nqakula pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.
Questions over the defence contract
In 2016, Umkhombe Marine, whose sole director is Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, received a 104 million rand defence logistics contract. It was cancelled several days after preliminary work began. According to the businesswoman's testimony, she was later offered a “replacement” contract worth 79 million rand, for which she had not applied and in whose tender process she had not participated.
During questioning, prosecutor Emil van der Merwe set out the following sequence: after the first contract was cancelled, Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu contacted the minister, who raised the matter with senior Defence Department officials, after which the businesswoman received another contract. Mapisa-Nqakula replied that she had instructed officials to contact Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu and investigate her complaints of alleged improper treatment by the South African National Defence Force. She stressed that she was not a member of procurement committees.
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The former minister also confirmed that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu was the only contractor she met privately. According to her, their relationship was personal, as both are traditional healers. The prosecution alleges that between December 2016 and July 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula demanded and received about 4.5 million rand from the businesswoman.
Claims about cash and renovations
Mapisa-Nqakula denied claims that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu handed her 300,000 rand hidden under a wig at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. She said the wig was a gift. Asked about declaring gifts in 2016–2019, the former official said she had not declared any gifts or benefits from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu.
The prosecution also links its bribery allegations to renovations at Mapisa-Nqakula's house in the Bruma area of Johannesburg. The court heard that the renovations cost about 1.8 million rand, including approximately 600,000 rand spent on imported curtain fabric. According to the prosecution, about 2.1 million rand used for the work came from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu in cash. Hearings are due to continue on 22 September.
